Disposable concrete form for posts and columns



March 13, 1962 R. K. DYER 3,024,512

DISPOSABLE CONCRETE FORM FOR POSTS AND COLUMNS Filed Aug. 14, 1961 ROBERT K. DYER n INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,024,512 DISPOSABLE CONCRETE FORNI FOR POSTS AND COLUMNS Robert K. Dyer, 5921 Calmont, Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Aug. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 131,164 Claims. ((1 25118) This invention relates to disposable forms for concrete fence posts, columns and the like, and is directed to a disposable form which can be stocked in a minimum of storage space and which can be easily transported to and set up in the field. A feature of this invention is to provide means to prevent concrete from leaking out around the base of the form where it rests on the ground. Another feature of this invention is a means of holding the reinforcing rods in place while the concrete is being poured. Provision is also made for introducing gate hooks and other hardware into the soft concrete through the form so that they will be incorporated in the finished post or column. A concrete fence post which is poured into a form set up over a post hole so that the buried lower portion of the post is cast directly into the ground will be much more firmly set, in most cases, than one which is precast and set up in the hole and then backfilled and tamped. The former method also requires less labor if the forming of the part of the post above ground is easily accomplished as the use of this invention.

Other novel advantages will be apparent from the following description and the drawing which is a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of the invention set over a post hole.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the lower end of the form.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the form shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a reduced elevational view of the form shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken where the concrete form meets the surface of the ground.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the form and concrete with a tube therethrough for making a passage in the post.

A concrete fence post which is poured into a form set up over a post hole so that the buried lower portion of the post is cast directly into the ground will be much more firmly set, in most cases, than one which is precast and set up in the hole and then backfilled and tamped. The former method also requires less labor if the forming of the part of the post above ground is easily accomplished as with the use of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying illustration, this invention consists of a sleeve 10, of relatively cheap and light weight, but rigid, sheet material, such as cardboard or plastic, with just sufficient strength to contain the concrete mix for one pouring after which it can be stripped off and discarded. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, one embodiment of this invention is constructed of four equal fiat sides 11 connected along their edges with foldable joints, preferably in the form of score lines, that allow the sleeve to be flattened as along line AA in FIGURE 3, for storage and transportation. Along the bottom end of each of the sides 11, also connected by a folding joint, is a flap 13 which is left flat during storage and transportation but which is folded outwardly as shown in the drawing to form a base on which the sleeve can rest when it is placed in position for pouring 3,024,512 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 the concrete. Optional tabs 14 at the ends of the flaps 13 can be turned up to provide a web to strengthen the flaps 13 if the weight of the sleeve is carried on their outer edges as shown in FIGURES l and 7.

Aligned foldable brackets 15, having holes 16 therethrough, of the same or similar sheet material, are secured to the inner surface of the sides 11 near the top and bottom and remain flat until the sleeve is opened for use. At this time the free portions of these brackets are bent out to the position shown in the drawings, thus aligning the holes 16 so that reinforcing rods 17 can be inserted inside the sleeve 10 and through the holes 16 and into the post hole 18 where the brackets 15 will hold them in place while the concrete is poured. If soil conditions are right, one of the rods 17a can be cut longer than the others and driven into the soil at the bottom of the post hole 18 to hold the sleeve 10* erect until the concrete has hardened. Otherwise, any of several types of temporary bracing, not shown, can be attached to the outside of the sleeve by wire, staples or fiberglass tape.

A cuff 19 made of creped, water resistant paper or plastic is glued or stapled inside the lower end of the sleeve 10 so that about half its length extends beyond the fold of the flaps 13. During storage and shipment this cuff 19 i preferably tucked into the sleeve 10 and, due to the creping and folding when it is pulled out to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, it remains somewhat funnel shaped. This facilitates its insertion into the post hole 18 when the sleeve 10 is erected, but when the concrete is powered its pressure spreads the cuff 19 out against the sides of the hole 18, as shown in FIGURE 7, and eifectively seals the joint between the sleeve 10 and the ground. This gives a smooth surface to the finished post at thi point, and the remaining voids 20 can be backfilled after the sleeve 10 is removed.

If the post is to be used for hanging a gate, the hooks 21 which support the gate can be placed as the concrete is poured by inserting them through punched holes 22 in the side 11 of the sleeve '10 or they can be driven through the sleeve material at the desired location. Clips, not shown, for attaching the fence wire can also be punched through the side 11 into the soft concrete or inserted through pre-punched holes 23.

In cases where it is desirable to string wire through the finished post or to attach fencing by the wires strung through the post, tubes 24 can be inserted in holes 25 in the sides 11 prior to pouring the concrete, which tubes can be cut off flush with the surface of the concrete.

FIGURE 4 shows a bottom view of a six sided sleeve 26 of the invention which can be used in exactly the same way as the four sided sleeve 11} and which can be folded flat along the line BB.

FIGURE 5 shows a bottom view of a round sleeve 27 embodying most of the features of the four and six sided versions except that it does not readily lend itself to being folded flat. It is recommended that the round sleeve 27 be made slightly conical in shape so that the units can be stacked one within the other as indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 6. The supporting flaps 13a remain flattened against the sleeve 27 during storage and shipping and the internal brackets '15 also remain fiat until used, the material having sufficient yield to allow them to be folded inward-1y as illustrated even though they are bonded to the curved lower surface of the sleeve 27.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A concrete post form of semi-rigid disposable sheet material comprising a sleeve the size and length of the above ground portion of the post, and a cuff of water resistant flexible sheet material bonded to the inner sur- 3 face of said sleeve and extending a short distance beyond the lower end of said sleeve.

2. A concrete post form of disposable sheet material comprising a sleeve the size and length of the above ground portion of the post, flaps folding outwardly at the end of said sleeve where it rests on the ground, perforated brackets secured to the inner surface of said sleeve near its top and bottom with said perforations aligned to receive at least one reinforcing rod parallel to said sleeve, and a cufi of water resistant flexible material bonded to the lower surface of said sleeve and extending a short distance beyond the lower end thereof.

3. A disposable concrete post form as described in claim 1 in which said sleeve consists of at least four fiat sided flaps foldably connected along their respective edges.

4. A disposable concrete post form as described in 4 claim 1 in which said sleeve consists of a cone tapered sufiiciently to allow one said form to nest Within another of like size.

5. A disposable post form as described in claim 1 and wherein said sleeve is circular in transverse cross section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,204 Lorenz et a1 Nov. 17, 1919 1,627,754 Townsend May 10, 1927 2,448,883 Hall Sept. 7, 1948 2,618,037 Miller Nov. 18, 1952 2,677,165 Copenhaver et al. May 4, 1954 2.809.415 Couelle Oct. 15, 1957 2,661,517 Findley Dec. 8, 1958 

